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Measuring Glucose Using pH-Sensitive Hydrogels

Suitably formulated hydrogels exhibit changes in swelling with changes in glucose concentration.

Sensors that exploit pH-sensitive hydrogels for measuring concentrations of glucose in aqueous solutions are undergoing development. Because the underlying chemical and physical principles are also applicable to sensing of biochemicals other than glucose, it is expected to be relatively easy to modify the glucose sensors to enable detection of such biochemicals.

Deflection of a Microcantilever that had been coated with a hydrogel containing glucose oxidase was measured as a function of glucose concentration. In this experiment, the deflection was measured optically, but in a fully developed sensor as envisioned, the bending of the microcantilever would likely be measured via the piezoresistive effect.

The term "pH-sensitive hydrogels" denotes hydrogels that exhibit structural and hydration properties that change with changing concentrations of H+ ions in aqueous solutions. For the purpose of sensing glucose or another chemical species, a pH-sensitive hydrogel can be modified by the incorporation of active chemical components (e.g., enzymes) for catalyzing chemical reactions that lead to pH changes that increase with the concentration of that species. Then the change in a conveniently measurable physical property (e.g., a change in size as a measure of a change in swelling in response to a change in pH) can be used as an indication of the concentration of the species of interest. pH-sensitive hydrogels that have been modified or formulated to exhibit such changes in response to glucose or other chemical species of interest are sometimes called "smart gels."

The development work thus far has focused on techniques for stable, efficient immobilization of enzymes and on transduction techniques for measuring small changes in gel size or water content. In one of two transduction techniques that have been investigated, a smart hydrogel is immobilized on one side of a microcantilever, the bending of which is taken as an indication of swelling of the hydrogel. The other transduction technique is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer: The basic idea is to incorporate, into a hydrogel, fluorescent molecules, the spectral properties of which shift because of energy-transfer changes induced by gel swelling. Efforts to demonstrate sensing of glucose by use of both transduction techniques have been successful (for example, see figure). In addition, this development work has contributed to knowledge of the molecular structures and other properties of hydrogels.

This work was done by Michael J. McShane of Louisiana Tech University for the Army Research Laboratory. For further information, download the free white paper at www.defensetechbriefs.com  under the Materials category. ARL-0006

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Measuring Glucose Using pH-Sensitive Hydrogels

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    Defense Tech Briefs Magazine

    This article first appeared in the February, 2007 issue of Defense Tech Briefs Magazine (Vol. 1 No. 1).

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Overview

    The document is a final report on a research project titled "Novel Micro/Nano Approaches for Glucose Measurement using pH-Sensitive" conducted by Dr. Michael J. McShane at Louisiana Tech University. The project was funded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and spanned from June 1, 2004, to May 31, 2006. The primary objective of the research was to develop advanced biosensing platforms that utilize environmentally-sensitive hydrogel materials combined with immobilized enzymes to improve glucose monitoring methods, particularly for diabetics.

    The report highlights the motivation behind the project, which stems from the need for more effective testing methods for glucose levels, as these levels serve as critical indicators of metabolic status. The research focuses on innovative transduction techniques that can reliably detect small changes in the physical and mechanical properties of hydrogels, specifically through microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (RET) optical systems.

    Key accomplishments of the project include successful demonstrations of glucose sensing using the aforementioned techniques. The research has led to significant discoveries regarding the structure and properties of hydrogels, which were uncovered through novel measurement approaches. The project has resulted in the publication of three manuscripts and the presentation of four conference reports, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of biosensing.

    The report also includes sections on key research accomplishments, reportable outcomes, and conclusions, summarizing the impact of the findings on glucose monitoring technologies. The research is deemed significant not only for its potential applications in diabetes management but also for its broader implications in metabolic health monitoring.

    Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive overview of the research conducted, detailing the methodologies employed, the results obtained, and the implications of the findings. It emphasizes the importance of continued innovation in biosensing technologies to enhance healthcare outcomes for individuals with diabetes and other metabolic disorders. The report is approved for public release, ensuring that the findings can be disseminated widely for further research and application in the field.

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